Strawberry plant named &#39;Dely&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Fragaria ananassa  Duch named ‘DELY’, characterized by the description herein.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Fragaria ananassa Duch

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DELY’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘DELY’, which was the result of a controlled cross between notreleased selections of Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti T2−6×A20−17

The progeny was first asexually propagated by stolons in S. Giuseppe diComacchio Ferrara Italy in 2004.

The Dely variety was tested over the next several years in differentEuropean areas with continental climates. The test started in 2005 till2010.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Strawberry variety ‘DELY’ can be distinguished fromplants of the Strawberry variety ‘CLERY’ by the following uniquecombination of characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Comparison Variety Denomination Characteristicin State of State of of similar which the similar expression ofexpression of variety variety is different similar variety candidatevariety ‘CLERY’ Firmness Very firm Medium-firm Vigour medium strong

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by stolons shows that theforegoing and all other characteristics and distinctions come true toform and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Strawberry ‘DELY’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DELY’.

FIG. 1 shows the plant of ‘DELY’;

FIG. 2 shows the leaves of ‘DELY’;

FIG. 3 shows the flowers of ‘DELY’ and

FIG. 4 shows the fruits of ‘DELY’.

The colors of this illustration may vary with lighting conditions and,therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should bedetermined with reference to the observations described herein, ratherthan from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the Dely variety, unless otherwisenoted, is based on observations taken of plants and fruits, andasexually reproduced progeny, grown at S. Giuseppe di Comacchio FerraraItaly.

The observed plants were one year old plants, produced in the nursery inFerrara in 2009, then stored in cold storage at −1° C. from December2009 and planted in the production field c/o CIV on 30^(th) July 2010.

Certain characteristics of this variety may change with changingenvironmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, moisture, etc.),nutrient availability, or other factors. Quantified measurements areexpressed as an average of measurements taken from a number ofindividual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individualplant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from thestated average. Color descriptions and other terminology are used inaccordance with their ordinary dictionary descriptions, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. Color designations are made withreference to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—semi-upright.        -   Density.—medium.        -   Vigor.—strong.        -   Overall shape.—globose.        -   Height.—about 0.34 meters.        -   Width.—about 0.46 meters.-   Leaf:    -   -   Upperside.—RHS 141A green group; underside: RHS 138B green            group.        -   Length.—0.15 m.        -   Width.—0.20 m.        -   Cross section.—concave.        -   Leaf surface undulation or blistering.—Medium.        -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.        -   Leaf stem characteristics.—Color RHS 145 A, green group.            Position of hairs: slightly outwards. Length: About 19 cm.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length/width ratio: 1.1, moderately            longer. Length: About 11 cm. Width: About 10 cm. Shape of            base: acute. Shape of teeth: Crenate.        -   Petiole.—position of hairs: slightly outwards. Length: About            19 cm.        -   Stipule.—Anthocyanin coloration: weak. Color RHS 46 A red            group.        -   Stolons.—Number: about 10-15. Thickness: Medium, about            2.5 mm. Pubescence: sparse. Color RHS 145 A, yellow green            group.-   Inflorescence: Position relative to foliage is at same level.    -   -   Length.—About 22 cm.        -   Flower.—Size. Medium. Size of calyx relative to corolla.            Same size. Spacing of petals. Overlapping.        -   Flower characteristics.—Diameter primary flowers. About            3.6 cm. Diameter secondary flowers. About 3.0 cm. Number of            petals. Normally 6-7. Color — RHS white group (near 155 B).            Fragrance: No significant fragrance. Time from bloom to            mature fruit. — About 22 to 28 days.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Numerous with pollen present, fertile and abundant.            Length approximately 3 mm.        -   Anthers.—Generally average in size (length about 1.5 mm,            width about 1 mm). Color — RHS yellow group (near 12 B) and            darkening color RHS 12 A with advanced maturity. Pollen. —            Fertile and abundant. Color — RHS yellow orange group (near            14 B). Pistils. — Numerous, generally average in size. Color            — RHS yellow group (near 13 B).        -   Petal.—Length/width ratio: 1.05.        -   Fruit truss.—Attitude: Semi-erect.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit.—Ratio of length/maximum width: equal or moderately            longer.        -   Color of mature fruit.—RHS 45 A red group.        -   Color of internal fruit.—RHS 44 A red group, RHS 39 A            orange-red group, and RHS 155 D white group.        -   Length.—average 43.8 mm.        -   Width.—average 42.8 mm.        -   Calyx diameter.—average 49 mm.        -   Average weight.—about 19 to 31 grams.        -   Achene color.—RHS 152 C yellow green group.        -   Number of achenes per berry.—300-360.        -   Achene size.—length about 1.2 mm, width about 1 mm.        -   Weight of 1000 achenes.—about 0.68 grams.        -   Peduncle length of inflorescence stem.—Primary fruit about 6            to 9 cm secondary fruit about 6 cm Color: near RHS 145 A,            yellow green group.        -   Marketable yield (gm/plant).—about 600 grams.        -   Fruit size.—medium to large.        -   Predominant shape.—conical.        -   Difference in shapes between primary and secondary            fruit.—moderate. Band without achenes: absent or very            narrow.        -   Unevenness of surface.—even or very slightly uneven.        -   Evenness of color.—even or very slightly uneven.        -   Glossiness.—strong.        -   Insertion of achenes.—level with surface.        -   Insertion of calyx.—level with surface.        -   Attitude of the calyx.—outwards.        -   Size of calyx in relation to fruit diameter.—same size.        -   Adherence of calyx.—medium.        -   Firmness of flesh.—medium-firm.        -   Hollow center expression.—medium.        -   Flavor.—very good.        -   Soluble solids (% brix).—about 9.        -   Time of first flowering.—early, from one week of April in S.            Giuseppe di Comacchio Ferrara Italy.        -   Time of first harvesting.—early, from last week of April            in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio Ferrara Italy.        -   Harvest period.—about one month from last week of April to            last week of May in S. Giuseppe di Comacchio Ferrara Italy.        -   Type of bearing.—not remontant.-   Disease resistance: The ‘DELY’ variety as been tested for several    years and it has manifested a good rusticity plant, quite resistant    to leaf and root diseases.

1. A new and distinct variety of Fragaria ananassa Duch named ‘DELY’, asillustrated and described herein.